CART T-cell therapy: Townsville to get new weapon in blood cancer fight
Townsville will be the first regional city in Australia to introduce a revolutionary cancer therapy for patients who have exhausted all other options. Find out more.
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Townsville will be the first regional city in Australia to introduce a revolutionary cancer therapy for patients who have exhausted all other options.
“This groundbreaking treatment will be life-changing for so many Queenslanders seeking treatment for blood cancers such as leukaemia and lymphoma,” Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said.
“It’s fantastic to see Queensland leading the way in cancer care and providing this innovative treatment in a regional city for the first time in the country.”
Known as CAR T-cell therapy, the new treatment utilises a person’s immune system to fight cancer cells in the blood.
The therapy is jointly funded by the State and Federal governments and has been made possible through a collaboration with the statewide CAR T-cell therapy service based at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said the treatment had the potential to “transform the lives” of blood cancer patients in North Queensland.
During therapy, white blood cells known as T-cells are removed from a patient’s blood and flown overseas to a laboratory, where scientists add special receptors called Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CAR) to the T-cells.
The modified CAR T-cells are then multiplied into large numbers in the lab before being transported back to Townsville and reinfused into the patient’s body.
The specialised T-cells are then able to recognise and attack the cancer cells in the patient’s blood.
Townsville Hospital and Health Service medical director Dr Andrew Birchley said the availability of the treatment in North Queensland would mean that cancer sufferers would not have to travel to Brisbane.
“We expect to treat five to 10 patients through CAR T-cell therapy during the first year of this new service,” he said.
“Blood cancer patients who have not responded to traditional treatments like chemotherapy or radiation therapy, or patients whose cancer has come back after treatment, may be considered for CAR T-cell therapy.”
THHS CEO Kieran Keyes said it was proud “to be at the forefront of medical advancements and by expanding our lifesaving treatment option”.
“We’re giving some of the sickest members of our community the opportunity to access world-class care close to home.”
Mundingburra MP Les Walker said that having the service close to home would ease the burden of cancer patients.
“We are backing new services like this as well as the $530 million expansion of Townsville University Hospital to deliver an extra 143 beds as the city’s population changes and grows.”
Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper said it would continue to back the THHS with “world-class services, great facilities and the right people in place to help the community”.
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Originally published as CART T-cell therapy: Townsville to get new weapon in blood cancer fight
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